Power generating chair

ABSTRACT

A power generating chair includes a base, a seat, a back, and a power-collecting module. The seat includes a seat housing and a first cushion received in the seat housing. The seat is positioned above the base. The seat housing is supported by the base. The first cushion is made of piezoelectric material and configured for converting mechanical energy to electrical power. The back is connected to a side of the seat. The power-collecting module is electrically connected to the first cushion and configured for storing the electrical power generated by the first cushion.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a chair and, particularly, to a powergenerating chair.

2. Description of Related Art

Chairs are used at work and for relaxing. When a user sits down, leansback in the chair, or moves with the chair, the chair is pressed. Hence,utilizing the pressure is very important and ought to be considered inthe design of chairs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a power generating chair, according to anexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the power generating chair of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the power generating chair of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a power generating chair 100, according to anexemplary embodiment, includes a seat 10, a back 20, a connection member30, a pair of armrests 40, a base 50, and a power-collecting module 60(shown in FIG. 3).

Referring to FIGS. 1-2, the seat 10 includes an upper surface 10 a and alower surface 10 b. The upper surface 10 a and the lower surface 10 bare positioned at opposite sides of the seat 10. The upper surface 10 ais configured for supporting users. The seat 10 includes a seat housing12, a first cushion 14, and a second cushion 16. The first cushion 14 isreceived in the seat housing 12. The first cushion 14 is made ofpiezoelectric material and configured for converting mechanical energyto electrical power. The second cushion 16 is received in the seathousing 12 and positioned on the first cushion 14. The second cushion 16is a solar panel and is configured for converting light energy toelectrical power.

The back 20 includes a connection portion 20 a and a support portion 20b. The connection portion 20 a and the support portion 20 b arepositioned at opposite sides of the back 20. The back 20 includes a backhousing 22, a first back plate 24, and a second back plate 26. The firstback plate 24 is received in the back housing 22. The first back plate24 is made of piezoelectric material and configured for convertingmechanical energy to electrical power. The second back plate 26 engageswith the back housing 22 and seals the back housing 22. The second backplate 26 is a solar panel and is configured for converting light energyto electrical power.

The connection member 30 defines a cutout 32. The connection member 30protrudes from a side of the seat 10. The connection portion 20 a isfixed in the cutout 32 by means of a pivot 28. A preload force can beset between the connection portion 20 a and the pivot 28, such that theback 20 can rotate about the pivot 28 when a pressure applied to theback 20 is larger than the preload force.

The two armrests 40 extend from the two opposite sides of the seat 10.The back 20 is positioned between the two armrests 40.

Referring to FIGS. 2-3, the base 50 includes a support member 52 and ashaft 54. The support member 52 includes a pole 522, five radial-typelegs 524, and five wheels 526. One end of the pole 522 is rotatablyconnected to one end of the shaft 54. The legs 524 extend from the otherend of the pole 522. The wheels 526 are fixed on the respective legs 524and rest on the ground. The wheels 526 are made of piezoelectricmaterial and configured for converting mechanical energy to electricalpower. The other end of the shaft 54 is fixed to the lower surface 10 bof the seat 10 to support the seat 10. The shaft 54 is made ofpiezoelectric material and configured for converting mechanical energyto electrical power.

The power-collecting module 60 is a storage battery. Thepower-collecting module 60 is fixed on the lower surface 10 b and ismechanically connected to the shaft 54. The power-collecting module 60is electrically connected to the first cushion 14, the second cushion16, the first back plate 24, the second back plate 26, the wheels 526,and the shaft 54 by wires (not shown), thereby any electrical powergenerated by the first cushion 14, the second cushion 16, the first backplate 24, the second back plate 26, the wheels 526, and the shaft 54,flows into and is stored in the power-collecting module 60.

In this embodiment, the piezoelectric material includes organicpiezoelectric material, inorganic piezoelectric material, or compoundpiezoelectric material. The organic piezoelectric material may bepolyvinylidene fluoride. The inorganic piezoelectric material may bepiezotransistors or piezoceramics. A piezotransistor may include quartzcrystal, lithium gallium oxide, lithium germinate, lithium niobate andlithium tantalite. The piezoceramics may include barium titanate, bariumzirconate titanate, modified barium zirconate titanate, and modifiedlead titanate. The compound piezoelectric material may include a polymerbase, in which organic piezoelectric material and inorganicpiezoelectric material are embedded.

If a user sits on the power generating chair 100, a pressure will beapplied to the first cushion 14 and the wheels 526. Then, the firstcushion 14 and the wheels 526 transform the mechanical energy toelectrical power. If the user leans back in the power generating chair100, a pressure will also be applied to the first back plate 24. Then,the first back plate 24 transforms the mechanical energy to electricalpower. If the user rotates the power generating chair 100, a pressureand torque will be applied to the shaft 54. Then, the shaft 54transforms the mechanical energy to electrical power. If the powergenerating chair 100 is moved, a rolling pressure is appliedperipherally to the wheels 526. Then, the first cushion 14 and thewheels 526 transform the mechanical energy to electrical power. Inaddition, when the second cushion 16 and the second back plate 26 facetowards a bright light such as the sun, the second cushion 16 and thesecond back plate 26 can transform light energy to electrical power. Thepower-collecting module 60 stores all the electrical power generated. Inanother embodiment, the electrical power may be provided directly toother electronic devices. Thus, the simple act of sitting in the powergenerating chair 100 can provide additional electrical power forcharging the battery and/or powering electronic devices, achieving goodenergy conservation.

In another embodiment, the support member 52 includes a pole. One end ofthe pole is rotatably connected to one end of the shaft 54, and theother end of the pole is supported by the ground.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerouscharacteristics and advantages of the present embodiments have been setfourth in the foregoing description, together with details of thestructures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure isillustrative only, and changes may be made in details, especially in thematters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principlesof the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad generalmeaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A power generating chair comprising: a base; aseat comprising a seat housing and a first cushion received in the seathousing, the seat positioned above the base, the seat housing supportedby the base, the first cushion made of piezoelectric material andconfigured for converting mechanical energy to electrical power; a backconnected to a side of the seat; and a power-collecting moduleelectrically connected to the first cushion and configured for storingthe electrical power generated by the first cushion.
 2. The powergenerating chair of claim 1, wherein the power-collecting module isfixed on a lower surface of the seat and is mechanically connected tothe base.
 3. The power generating chair of claim 1, wherein the seatfurther comprises a second cushion positioned on the first cushion, andthe second cushion is a solar panel and is electrically connected to thepower-collecting module.
 4. The power generating chair of claim 1,wherein the back comprises a back housing, a first back plate, and asecond back plate, the back housing is connected to the side of theseat, the first back plate is received in the back housing, the firstback plate is made of piezoelectric material and electrically connectedto the power-collecting module, the second back plate engages with theback housing to seal the back housing, and the second back plate is asolar panel and is electrically connected to the power-collectingmodule.
 5. The power generating chair of claim 1, further comprising aconnection member, wherein the connection member protrudes from the sideof the seat and defines a cutout, and the back is pivotedly fixed in thecutout.
 6. The power generating chair of claim 1, further comprising apair of armrests, wherein the armrests extend from two opposite sides ofthe seat, and the back is positioned between the two armrests.
 7. Thepower generating chair of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a supportmember and a shaft, one end of the shaft is fixed to the lower surfaceof the seat, and the other end of the shaft is rotatably connected tothe support member.
 8. The power generating chair of claim 7, whereinthe shaft is made of piezoelectric material and electrically connectedto the power-collecting module.
 9. The power generating chair of claim8, wherein the support member comprises a pole, one end of the pole isrotatably connected to the shaft, and the other end of the pole issupported by the ground.
 10. The power generating chair of claim 8,wherein the support member comprises a pole, a plurality of legs, and aplurality of wheels, one end of the pole is rotatably connected to theshaft, the legs extend from the other end of the pole, the wheels arefixed on the respective legs and are supported by the ground.